As you can see, four ex-Sonics are averaging better than 10 points a game, including two (West and Szczerbiak) who were traded for a great big pile of nothing. That West/Wally for Marshall/Griffin/Newble deal is going to go down as one of the biggest shams in team history, mark my words. Not that West or Wally will ever amount to much in this league, but the sheer audacity of giving up players who are starting for a playoff team for just absolutely nothing is disgraceful.

Also of note, of those listed, only Daniels and Evans are home watching the games on television now. The remainder are all still alive, and unless San Antonio, LA, Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando are all elimated, you will be watching ex-Sonic(s) either start or play key roles off the bench in the NBA Finals this season.

5 comments:

AK1984
said...

Sam Presti should've also gotten a 2008 first-round draft pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the trade centered around Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West; however, he decided to give his former co-worker with San Antonio Spurs, Danny Ferry, a huge discount.

Good point, ak. Anybody else notice that the trades SP has made with S.A. people (Kurt Thomas to SA, Wally/West to Cleve., Ray to Bost) have been lousy, and the trades he's made with non-SA people (Orlando/Lewis, Thomas/Phoenix) have been great?

Add inthe non-trade of Thomas to Orlando, when Orlando was offering more than SA was, and it makes you a little suspicious, no?

Ryan - that's amazing, I was making the exact same point the other day to someone else about Presti's deals.

Anonymous - I don't think Wally was a bust, he was the only outside shooter on the entire team, and considering that both Wally and West are starting for the Cavs in the playoffs, doesn't that mean they're worth more than Griffin, Newble (who the Sonics already waived), and Marshall (who they would have waived if his contract ended this year)?

Ferry knew Presti was heavily focused on saving money for Bennett so he felt he could get the players without giving a pick. And Ferry wasn't going to ask his owner to pay luxury tax and give away a pick, Ferry isn't a great GM on player selection (too up and down) but he is very stubborn negotiator. Presti's only attempt to stare someone down was with Orlando and he caved first, with Thomas deal and with Lewis deal.

But Presti largely did what he wanted. The balance will tip in his favor or against him based on what he does with the direction he choose and the next follow-up steps.